Feeding mechanism for sewing-machines and the like.



N0.-858,539. PATENTED JULY 2, 1907.

J. A. RHOULT.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MAGHINES AND THE LIKE.

' mman-Ion FILED 1130.7; 1905.

I ll. 15 2 29- 2 m V w/z a UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

JOSEPHA. RHOULT, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOHARRIS W. SPAULDING, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 2, 1907.

Application filed Deuember 7,1905. Serial No. 290,726.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. RHoULT, of Haverhill, in the county ofEssex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved FeedingMechanism for Sewing-Machines and the Like, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved feeding mechanism;Fig.. 2 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 showsthe holder hereinafter described, and its actuating cam; Fig. 4 is adetail showing the work-engaging end of the feeder hereinafterdescribed; Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are views illustrating the mode ofoperation of my improved feeding mechanism.

In sewing and like machines which operate in a line upon a piece ofwork, the work is usually fed through the machine, step by step, whileit is being operated upon, and there are times during the operation ofsuch machines when the work is likely to be displaced with consequentinaccuracy of feed and of stitching.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved feeding mechanismfor use in sewing machines and the like which will feed the work step bystep dur: ing the operation of the machine and at all times hold thework against accidental displacement. To this end I provide a feeder anda holder which alternately engage the work in such manner that at alltimes during the operation of the mechanism one or the other is inengagement with the work and prevents displacement thereof.

In the best form of my invention the feeder and the holder both engagethe work preferably on a line which is parallel with the feed and duringthe operation of the mechanism the feeder travels from a retractedposition into engagement with the work, then laterally to effect thefeed, and then out of engagement with the work back to its retractedposition again, the holder being out of engagement with the work as thelatter is shifted laterally by the feeder, and beingbrought intoengagement with the work after the feeder has completed its feedingmovement. By this arrangement the work is at all times controlled by themechanism so that accidental displacement and irregular feed isprevented, and whatever marking of the work results from the engagementtherewith of the holder and the feeder will be in one line.

Other features of my invention are hereinafter pointed out.

Having reference to the drawings, 1 represents the holder and 2 thefeeder. The holder 1 is made with slots 21 and 31 through which extend afixed stud 4 and a shaft 5, the latter being constantly driven from anysuitable source of power. The lower end of holder 1 carries a cam roll 6in engagement with a cam 7 fixed to the shaft 5 through which at theproper moments during the operation of the mechanism the holder islowered and raised in a straight line. The feeder 2 is made with a slot8 to embrace stud 4 and with a yoke 9 embracing a cam 10 on shaft 5through which feeder 2 is raised and lowered as well as oscillated onstud 4. The upper ends of the holder and feeder extend into a slot 11 ina Work-rest 12 at a point below an abutment 13 which in the case of asewing machine such as that shown in my Patent No. 796,866 would be thepresser-foot, work guide or thread carrier. The upper ends of the holderand feeder terminate in work-engaging points 14 and 15, which are offsetone toward the other and which overlap as shown in Fig. 1 so that theyare in a line parallel with the oscillating movement of feeder 2.

The operation of the mechanism, starting with the parts in the positionshown in Fig. 2, is illustrated in Figsj'5 to 10 inclusive, and is asfollows: Holder 1 is first lowered by cam 7 and then feeder 2 is swungon stud 4 so as to shift its point 14 laterally to the left and at thecompletion of this lateral work-feeding movement cam 7 raises holder 1into engagement with the Work back of point 14 after which cam 10 lowersfeeder 2, swings its upper end laterally to the right and then raises itback into engagement with the work behind the holder. The operation isthen repeated, and, as will be obvious, each time the holder or feederis thrust against the work the latter is firmly and positively heldagainst abutment 13 by the holder or feeder and accidental displacementof the work isthus at all times prevented.

It will be clear that with my feed mechanism the thrust of both feederand holder is substantially at right angles to the work and thereforedoes not tend to cause side play of the work or inaccuracy of the feed.My construction is very compact and yet is of ample strength withoutgiving any spring effect to the feeder or holder.

What I claim is:

1. In a feeding mechanism of the character described the combinationwith a feeder and a holder having their work-engaging ends offset onetoward the other in a di rection at right angles to the feed, ofmeans-to revolve the work-engaging end of the feeder in a plane aroundthe work-engaging end of the holder, and means to operate the holder.

' 2. In a feed mechanism of the character described the combination witha feeder and a holder having their work-engaging ends olfset one towardthe other and overlapped, of means to shift the feeder from a retractedposition into engagement with the Work, then laterally to feed the work,and then out of engagement with the work and back to its retractedposition again; and means to shift the holder to and from the work toengage the latter while the work is not engaged by the feeder and tofree the work while the feeder is acting thereon, said my 10 cratingmeans for the holder and feeder (JO-()Dfllillilllf; to cause thework-engaging end of the feeder to travel in an endless path around thework-engaging end of the holder.

JOSEPH A. ltIlOUlJ'J.

Witnesses JOHN .T. RYAN, MARGARET EMERSON.

